Sri Lanka's cricket board has apologised to ground staff who were ordered to strip off and return the uniforms it provided before being paid.

The incident happened after the final match in the one-day series between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the Hambantota stadium on Monday.

Images on social media showed some of the temporary staff walking off in their underpants.

To add insult to injury, Sri Lanka lost the match and the series.

The affected staff were among about 100 young local people contracted temporarily on a daily wage of 1,000 rupees ($6.50; £5) to carry out ground duties at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sri Lanka's Sunday Times website reports.

After the match they were told they would have to give back their trousers, sporting the SLC logo, before getting paid.

The Times said the staff had not been told of the arrangement and many had not brought a spare pair.

The Sri Lankan cricket board said in a statement: "Whilst stern action will be taken against those responsible, Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to apologise to those subjected to this ignominy, and will take steps to ensure they are compensated."